The fully-funded 2025 Gates Cambridge Scholarship is now open to all interested and qualified international students who are passionate to study in the UK.
As a recipient of the noble Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you will receive full tuition fees coverage, a living stipend of £20,000 per annum, and the full sponsorship of your visa and travel costs to and from the UK.
This article will explain in detail, the requirements, benefits, and step-by-step application guide for interested candidates.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Abstract
- Scholarship Host: Gates Foundation | University of Cambridge
- Category: Scholarships || Postgraduate Scholarships || Masters Scholarship || PhD Scholarship
- Benefits: Full Scholarship
- Tuition coverage
- £20,000 Living Stipends
- Travel Costs
- Visa Costs
- Eligibility: All Countries
- Opening Date: September 2024
- Deadline: January 4, 2025
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Gates Cambridge Scholarship Details
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides its awardees the opportunity to pursue a fully-funded postgraduate Masters and Doctoral scholarship at the prestigious University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; the largest ever single donation to a UK university.
Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.
The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.
It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Requirements
You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are:
- a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
- PhD (full-time or part-time*)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions – see below
- If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
To be eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, applicants must also possess the following:
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outstanding intellectual ability
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reasons for choice of course
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a commitment to improving the lives of others
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leadership potential
Explore more scholarship opportunities below.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Benefits and Timeline
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.
Core components
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the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*
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a maintenance allowance for a single student (£20,000 for 12 months at the 2023-24 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
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one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
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inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
- The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts.
- Where a student has been successful in gaining a fee award from public authorities (such as the UKRI) they should accept this award and the Trust will not pay their fee or may share their fee and maintenance costs.
Discretionary components
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
- Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
- Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
- Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
- Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar
Required Documents for Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- A crucial part of the application document is a personal statement of not more than 500 words (3000 characters) stating why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria.
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In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.
- Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding.
How To Apply for 2025 Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
- To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.
- In the admission section, you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans, and suitability for the proposed course.
- In the funding section, you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its own sub-section.
- Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.
- Review and selection of successful applicants will be done by panels, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Begin your application by clicking on the button below.